Kaira Stomprud '23 Recruiting Profile

I honestly don’t remember what got me into volleyball. I just remember going to a game one day and deciding that’s what I wanted to do. One of my favorite things about volleyball is diving. I don’t know how to describe it, but the feeling you get when you sacrifice your body to get to a ball is so satisfying. And once you get that ball back in the air, you get to watch as your teammates use your sacrifice and push themselves to get that extra point. Watching your team come together is even better than getting a good dig. Volleyball is a sport where you learn to appreciate each and every one of your teammates. The aspect of hard work and the amount of mental/emotional strength are what drive me to play.

Nothing in life is easy. When it comes to moving cattle or serving the ball, it all requires heart and determination. When cattle start pushing back, you have two choices; give them room to settle down, or push them even harder. You only have a few moments to make a split-second decision before disaster can strike. The same goes for volleyball. You have to know whether to send the ball over or to set up your hitters. As a setter, you are forced to make decisions for the rest of the team. The amount of responsibility that is placed on a setter is another reason I love the sport. Yes, the setter decides who the ball goes to, but the back row has to get the ball to them and the hitters have to get the ball over the net. Volleyball is a team sport, and there is no I in team.